Battery holddown and terminal connector

Abstract

An assembly for facilitating the quick connection and disconnection of appliance cables to the terminals of a storage battery and preventing corrosion at the terminals, including a pair of connectors defined by insulating caps enclosing conductive sleeves, and a releasable clamp engageable with the battery for securing the connectors against their respective terminals, including the improvement of a simple releasable clamp.

I claim: 
     
       1. A battery terminal assembly for detachably connecting electrical appliance cables to the terminals of a storage battery comprising: (a) a pair of connectors;   (b) a releasable clamp for clamping the connectors to the terminal;   (c) each connector including: i. a conductive sleeve configured for snug engagement around a terminal of the battery,   ii. an insulating cap for enclosing the sleeve, the cap including a top portion for engagement by the clamp, and   iii. a conductive attachment portion extending laterally from the sleeve and outwardly of the cap for connection to an appliance cable; and   (d) the clamp includes:   i. an elongated beam having a first end and a second end pivotally connected to a vertical stud member at said first end, where said elongated beam extends over said insulating caps,   ii. said elongated beam having a recessed hook means at said second end to receive a quick release latch means,   iii. said quick release latch means being mounted on a vertical stud member, and having an overcenter latch including a loop means, whereby said loop means engages said recessed hook means on said elongated beam to cooperate with said overcenter latch for applying downward pressure against the top portion of the cap for securing the connection to the terminal.     
     
     
       2. A battery terminal assembly as in claim 1, wherein said top portions of said caps include grooves to receive and hold said elongated beam, said grooves being aligned whereby downward pressure created by the pivoting of said elongated beam about the first end forces said connectors on the battery terminals and the closing of said overcenter latch provides downward pressure to said connectors to secure the connections. 
     
     
       3. A battery terminal assembly as in claim 2 wherein said vertical stud members are vertically adjustable on a battery support. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said cap further includes a bottom portion and a peripheral boot extending from said bottom portion for sealingly engaging the battery and preventing corrosion at the terminal. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said cap is formed of nonconductive plastic material. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said attachment portion and said sleeve are integrally formed of lead. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said attachment portion includes a recess for receiving the end of the appliance cable. 
     
     
       8. A battery terminal assembly as in claim 3 in which said overcenter latch has locking means integrally formed therewith.